Portable fire-escape.



IIIVEIITUI? 014M ATTORNEY.

PATBNTED JULY 18, 1905. I

B. 3. LANDIS'. PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE. APPLICATION FILED 1, 1905.

l a i M ANDREI B GRAHAM m, unmmmsns. WASN You, O c

UNTTED STATES Patented July 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

PORTABLE FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,721, dated July 18, 1905.

I Application filed February 1, 1905. Serial No. 243,626.

To all whom, it vita/y concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID E. LANDIs, of Rockglen, Luzerne county, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Portable Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to portable fireescapes; and it consists of certain improvements fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and efifective construction of portable fire-escape adapted for general use in houses and hotels.

In construction my invention consists in a wooden block having a series of oppositelydirected holes through which the rope travels in a zigzag course to create considerable friction upon the rope when tension is put upon it and provided one or both sides with a friction-brake, consisting of a metallic hook over which the rope is looped and held with more or less strain, the said block being further provided with suspension straps or supports for the person.

My invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the abovedescribed features, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which .Figure l is a side elevation of a fire-escape embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of same, and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the block with the rope removed.

D is the rope and is preferably provided at each end with a loop (Z, so that either end may be adapted to be attached to a hook within the window-frame or otherwise suspended.

A is a sliding block of wood and is provided with a series of oppositely-directed oblique holes B, which open in pairs of opposite sides of the block and form rounded portions over which the rope is bent and by which the friction is created-upon said rope. The upper and lower oblique holes open through the ends of the block, as shown at O, to form terminal grooves for the rope.

Pivoted on each side of the block A and at its middle portion are the metal plates E E, said plates being held in position by a transverse bolt Gr passing through the wooden block A. These plates E are provide-don their lower parts with loops H and on their upper portions with the upwardly-extending prongs to form hooks F, over which the rope D may be passed and held to create additional friction and braking action during descent, especially for heavy persons. It will be observed that the rope D is brought upward by the lower terminal groove C and over one of the hooks F, thereby giving to the rope two additional bends, which may.

have the requisite governing and braking action to regulate the descent of the person. As there are two of the hooks, one on each side of the block, the rope may be handled by a right or left handed person with equal facility.

Secured to the loops H of the plates E are the straps I and J, the former being adapted to act as a seat for the person and the latter as a support to pass under the arms and around the shoulder to sustain the body in an upright position, so as to give the hands freedom of action. To facilitate the applihation of the strap J, it is provided at one end with a snap-hook K, adapted to engage a ring L on the strap I near the plate E.

As the plates E are pivoted and capable of rotation, it is evident that the device as a whole is reversible, so that after one person has let himself down the rope the block A and lower end of the rope may be pulled up and the rope reversed for the descent of the next person. In this case the rope will be bent around the other terminal groove C, now at the bottom, and passed over one of the hooks F, as before.

It is evident that while I employ two plates E of similar construction, thereby forming two hooked portions F F, my invention may be served by having only one such hooked portion; but in such case a little less convenience would be had in adapting itself to the use of right and left hand persons.

I have shown my invention in the form which I have found most excellently adapted to practical use, and while I prefer it in that form I do not restrict myself to the minor details shown, as they may be modified withhaving apertures forming a circuitous passage for the rope throughout the length of the block, combined with the rope threaded through the apertures of the block, plates secured to the sides of the block and forming a hooked portion F over which the rope is guided, and supporting means secured to both of the plates for supporting the person.

2. In a portable fire-escape the sliding block having apertures forming a circuitous passage for the rope, combined with the rope threaded through the apertures of the block, plates pivoted to the block at its center so as to be reversible and forming a hooked portion F over which the rope is guided, and supporting means secured to the plates for supporting the person.

8. In a portable fire-escape, the sliding block having apertures forming a circuitous passage for the rope, combined with the rope threaded through said apertures of the block, two plates E having the upward prongs c to form hooks F and the downward loops H, a bolt G passing through the plates and block for securing them together, and suspension-straps, secured to the loops of the plates.

4. In aportable fire-escape, the sliding block having apertures forming a circuitous passage for the rope, combined with the rope threaded through said apertures of the block, two plates E having the upward prongs e to form hooks F and the downward loops H, a bolt G passing through the plates and block for securing them together, and suspension-straps consisting of strap I secured to the loops of the plates and strap J rigidly secured at one end adjacent to one of the plates E and provided at the other end with a detachable connection adjacent to the other plate E.

5. In a portable fire-escape, the sliding block having apertures forming a circuitous passage in one plane for the rope and in which the said passage opens directly out of the top and bottom of the block, combined with the rope, a support for the person connected to the block at or about its middle whereby he is suspended from the sliding block, and a hook secured to the side of the block out of alinement with the plane of the circuitous passage and intermediate of the ends of the said circuitous passage and over which hook the rope end from the bottom of the block is bent to create a braking action.

6. Inaportablefire-escape, the slidingblock having apertures forming a circuitous passage for the rope, a support for the person whereby he is suspended i'rom the sliding block, and a reversible hook pivoted to the side of the block intermediate of its ends over which the rope at the bottom of the block is bent to create a braking action.

7 In a portable fire-escape, the combination of the sliding block having apertures forming a circuitous passage for the rope, the rope threaded through said apertures, a looselypivoted part secured to the sliding block over which the rope is bent to create a braking action, and a suspension-strap for supporting the person connected to the loosely-pivoted part whereby it is held in position for the rope.

8. A sliding block for a fire-escape consisting of a block A having oppositely-directed apertures '13 for the rope and the terminal grooves C 0 opening both directly into the ends and sides whereby the rope may extend from the middle of the ends of the block substantially as shown.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto DAVID E. LANDIS.

set my hand.

W itnesses AMos SoHLAUoH, CHARLEY TROY. 

